The holiday season is a time to be grateful for friends and family. But that doesn't stop businesses from doing what they need to do.
In a move to help small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as well as drive up its verified business listings, Google has launched a ‘Small Thanks’ program called #SmallThanks Hub. It's an online resource that creates customized digital marketing content and printed materials based on Google reviews.
"Simply search for your business name on the site, and we'll automatically create posters, social media posts, window clings, stickers and more - based on the reviews and local love from your customers on Google," wrote Google's VP of marketing for Ads & Americas, Lisa Gevelber.
#SmallThanks Hub is initially available in the U.S..
The Mountain View, California-based tech giant announced Thanksgiving week where it starts offering business owners the complimentary marketing materials to help promote their establishments.
"Reviews from your fans are like digital thank you notes, and they’re one of the first things people notice about your business in search results," wrote Gevelber.
"A few positive small thanks can mean the difference between a potential customer choosing your business or going elsewhere."
According to Google, 71 percent of consumers claim that positive reviews in search results make them more likely to visit a business.
And those business listings with positive reviews have experienced a 360 percent higher click-through rate to their website.
With the #SmallThanks hub, Google is reminding businesses to keep their Google listing updated, encouraging them to ask for customer reviews online and recommending they post "Find us on Google" stickers in their store and across their social media channels.
To use the program, companies need to first qualify for the free service and claim their business through the Google Business webpage. Google's machine learning technology will then pull key sentences from positive 4 to 5 star reviews.
